Taunton Man Gets 40 Years for Officer Stabbing

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — A Taunton man was convicted and sentenced Wednesday to serve 30 to 40 years in state prison for the near-fatal stabbing of a Taunton Police officer, along with other charges, in 2023.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced that Douglas Hagerty, 38, was convicted on February 4 in Fall River Superior Court after a bench trial before Judge Thomas McGuire.

The charges date back to September 26, 2023, when at about 6:30 p.m., Taunton Police conducted a motor vehicle stop at the Burger King on County Street that was unrelated to Hagerty.

High-Speed Chase Through Taunton

However, he approached police in his vehicle and made several incoherent statements, including “the Earth is flat,” and then started yelling “graphic, homophobic slurs to the officers,” the D.A.’s Office said. The officers did not know who he was, and when they attempted to speak to him, he sped away in his vehicle.

Officer Seriously Injured in Stairwell Attack

Hagerty arrived at his apartment at 55 West Brittania Street in Taunton, and struck the building with his vehicle. He ran inside as officers chased him. Officer Nicholas Garnett shouldered open a door in order to keep pursuing Hagerty. However, debris from the barricade fell in front of the door, trapping Officer Garnett inside. Hagerty then pulled out what the D.A.’s Office called “a large, double-edged, military-style knife” in the stairwell. He jumped down onto Garnett and stabbed him multiple times in the head, neck, back and arms.

Once other officers were able to gain entry, Garnett had to be taken to Morton Hospital and then medflighted to Boston Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery.

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Another Taunton Officer Cut by Hagerty

The other officers on the scene attempted to place Hagerty in custody. Officer Michael Flynn sustained cuts to his hand and forehead, and then Hagerty was Tased several times with minimal effect. He then fell through the ceiling into an apartment below.

Taunton Police Chief Suffers Stab Wound

Hagerty then had a kitchen knife as police attempted to subdue him again. He was Tased again, and in the process, Taunton Police Chief Edward Walsh sustained a minor stab wound to his abdomen.

The entire incident was captured on police body worn cameras, cameras in the defendant's vehicle and interior surveillance video of the apartment.

D.A. Quinn on Taunton Police's Apprehension of Hagerty

“The Taunton Police, led by Chief Edward Walsh, showed remarkable restraint by not shooting the defendant based upon the extreme danger he posed to them,” D.A. Quinn said. “The officers were well within their rights to use deadly force based upon the defendant's life-threatening conduct. I would like to commend Chief Walsh for leading the officers in subduing the defendant despite being stabbed.”

Officer Garnett Forced to Retire

Officer Garnett suffered career-ending injuries because of the attack.

“Officer Garnett was forced to retire from the Taunton Police Department based upon the injuries he suffered,” Quinn said. “I would like to thank him for his service to the City of Taunton along with the other officers and wish him the best in the future.”

Competing Expert Testimony on Criminal Responsibility

Following his arrest, Hagerty was sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for evaluation, where he was found both competent and criminally responsible. He then hired his own private physician, who stated Hagerty was not criminally responsible. Both doctors testified at his trial.

Judge Finds Defendant Criminally Responsible

Judge McGuire found Hagerty was criminally responsible for his actions and convicted him of armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, four counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, carrying a dangerous weapon, leaving the scene of property damage, and failure to stop for police. He was acquitted of mayhem.

“The Court credited the very compelling and credible testimony from Dr. Alexandra Sperzel, who is a Bridgewater State Hospital psychologist who found that the defendant was responsible for these extremely serious and violent crimes,” Quinn said.

D.A. Quinn on Hagerty's Conviction

"This was a premeditated and brutal attack on Taunton officers that could have killed Officer Garnett. I am pleased that the Court rejected the defendant's claim that he was not legally responsible for these crimes because of his mental state,” Quinn said. “The 40-year sentence imposed by the Court was well deserved based upon the violent conduct and extreme danger the defendant poses to the community.”